Some unique rubber blend was created during production. You can still hear the pebbles when you drive over the bottom and arches of newly restored roadways. This has never happened before throughout the previous nine years of using various tires. She felt like sand and stones were clinging to her. Stability while driving is superb. It works wonderfully for lane changes and sharp turns. The wheel turns sluggishly even when turned manually when stationary, as if it were trapped in the sand. I'm not sure if this is a good or bad thing, but I'm like the tires so far.